Allen was surprised to see that it was this man of all people who directed the question at him. When he was doing his research on the people his fiancé knew, s.h.i.+oka was the last person he would have thought to end up following her all the way here and to express such deep concern too.

"There is no need for me to do so. It is something she decided to do."

It"s something she decided to do for herself. That"s why he can"t stop her. After the confrontation and talk with Kazuya. Allen realized that even if he tried to talk to her about the matter, he wouldn"t be able to understand. Which is why he went to that place, he went back to that place and asked the one person he knew would have all the answers.

"The reason she became this way. It wasn"t for her own selfish desire, it"s because she wanted it. Power and strength to protect everyone else. But in that sense that meaning is already somewhat stale. The reason she fights now is something I cannot tell you. However, if it"s her, don"t you think she knows what she"s doing? If she still decided to fight despite her reason being gone, it won"t be for herself. It will be for someone else"s sake."

That"s why he can"t stop her. Fighting for the sake of another person isn"t something he understands all too well.

Rhys who had been making the most fuss suddenly sat down on the ground. He fiddled with some tubes and strange-looking items in boxes.

"What are you doing?" Shaarya asked.

"Making medicine for that idiot. If she fights like that she"s going to end up collapsing after its all over."

s.h.i.+oka whistles, "What a responsibility."

"Shut up. I"m surprised you"re not the one stopping her. Didn"t Prince Andrew tell you to take care of her in his place?"

s.h.i.+oka sighs, "That"s true" his gaze darkened, " But even I can"t override her decision. Her words have that power, after all. Whenever she says something, whenever she comes to a decision, you can"t just say no."

Indeed, he too had found that to be the case. He recalled it before, how he would use to converse with both s.h.i.+oka and Prince Andrew on the matters concerning Lyn.

Allen had heard the rumors that concerned the black-haired guard and his fiance. Yet upon being introduced, there was no such hostility; in fact, Allen could talk to him often. However, if he thought about it carefully, their conversations mainly revolved around a certain girl.

About her having the power to change people"s opinions and to bring others to her circle. It was something he found himself pointing out and only to have the wondering justified. But in all those times Allen noticed it, s.h.i.+oka"s gaze always seemed dark then.

"My sister is a lonely person."

Allen turned his direction to the girl who just spoke," What do you mean by that?" Allen questioned.

"She didn"t want to be with anyone. Even though we were close then, I could never tell what she was thinking. Although she was smiling when she was with me, somehow I always got the feeling it was forced. That she was never able to smile from the bottom of her heart. Even though she was with me, I knew that she didn"t want to become too close."

Not able to smile from the bottom of her heart. He too noticed that. Even though she was always smiling at him, once in a while, her gaze would cloud, and it would look like she was staring off into the distance. During those times, Allen would get worried about her, because it felt like her soul wasn"t there.

"I see, that"s how it is."

"But why?" s.h.i.+oka asked the question that was on everybody"s mind.

Shaarya"s gaze lands on the both of them, as she said, "Because if she was with someone and lost them. Then she would be emptier than before."

Allen thought about it. Back then, when he saw her in private. Those tears, and the look in her eyes. That emptiness and a feeling of being shrouded in darkness. That"s right, even though she understood her duties as a Princess. Even though she accepted it, it didn"t mean she was okay with the solitude. So when he told her those words...

"We royals are the very opposite of free" she was probably, probably trying to...

Due to his distraction, he didn"t realize the enemies charging at him with the blade. However, before Allen could reach for his sword, Lyn appeared in front of him and pushed him out the way.

In that split second there was a huge explosion, causing a grey fog to surround the area. It was a brief fog and didn"t last long at all. But even so, it caused the others to become frantic.

"Prince!" Carlo exclaimed.

"I am quite alright," Allen trailed off, " Where did..." His sentence fell short when he hears Rhys frantic call.

"Lyn!"

Allen shot his attention to the scene, to see indeed that his fiance was in a sorry state. The girl"s clothes had been slashed, and on her side, the sword had remained piercing deep into her skin. The opposition too seemed rather startled and had backed away. So there intention...really isn"t to harm her.

Lyn began to cough out blood.

Rhys bites his lip, "c.r.a.p. Lyn, you have too..."

But Lyn shook her head, "No."

Rhys startled, his facial expression immediately changed. " Oi hold on are you crazy? You can"t ---" he paused once the girl stares into his eyes, "d.a.m.n."

Allen didn"t know what to think about the current situation at all. His fiance has always been a careless person. He knew this from the very beginning, didn"t he?

He really was speechless; he didn"t think that she would still insist on fighting despite her current state. Allen cursed in his head; he should have stopped her. Didn"t he see how bad her injuries are? What on earth is he doing just standing by and watching like this?

"Please listen to the man. You"re in no condition to fight."

Lyn flashed a smile at him, "We elites are the very opposite of free. Allen you"re the one who said that. Indeed, even now that"s still the case here. I"m not free, they have caged me to this bloodshot destiny from the beginning. That"s why I do not mind it."

"That is foolish. You"re risking your life."

"Yes. This is my seriousness".

Her seriousness? Allen was cut off when Shaarya stood in front of him. "I see now. That"s what you meant. Please...don"t overdo it. Even if I say that those words are futile, I will stay here so finish the fight."

In that split second the brown hair girl"s aura changes, a smirk appears on her face. s.h.i.+oka sweatdropped, "If she gets injured to that extent...".

"Beth, stay with me," Rhys suddenly said.

Allen looked at the group of people around him who had suddenly changed their att.i.tudes. What are they doing? Are they actually going to allow Lyn to act this reckless? Allen stared at them, how ridiculous.

"It"s time to get serious."

Allen blinked once he heard those words, she wasn"t seriously fighting from the beginning? Though he heard about it at the party. Allen was the type who wouldn"t believe things unless he saw it with his own eyes. He was skeptical, and yet a part of him believed it.

No, that"s not what"s important here. His gaze lands on his fiance with wounds that seem to open up the more she fought. Is she serious? He had heard from that person that his fiance is strong but that didn"t mean... It shouldn"t be a justification for her to be allowed to do something this reckless.

She...she saved him.

Once again, she saved him.

Allen caused his eyes; that time, it was her for sure. Allen can confirm it now seeing her fight. Its the same as that time. In that split second where she stood in front of him just now he had seen it — the same expression as the one back then.

Now he understood it, understood why his brother was always cautious about the Lyn. Its because brother knew all along who saved him.

Perhaps, perhaps Allen knew too. Perhaps a part of him too already knew. Otherwise, he may not have been able to accept it. But that meant this entire time she"s....been trying to reach out to him...

Allen didn"t notice it at all. How could he have failed to notice the signs? This entire time she was so close to him, and he didn"t realize at all.

--

Earlier

From what Allen could determine, Lyn is certainly some sort of fighter. But as for the extent of the girl"s strength, he had yet to see. After he walked down for a few moments, his thoughts broke off when he saw a group of people land right in front of him.

Allen placed his hand on his blade, preparing himself for another attacker. But he didn"t have to do that since the people that landed before him were already wounded badly.

The Prince glanced at the direction they came from only to spot his bodyguard Carlo, with two members from the Sound Kingdom.

Carlo rushed over. " Prince. I am glad you aren"t harmed." That"s odd; he isn"t commenting on his disappearance?

Allen The Princess is over there?" he questioned the group.

"Yes, but…perhaps you shouldn"t…"

But Allen was already heading in the direction the bun hair girl pointed at. Indeed, he found his fiance there, her long black hair and those violet orbs. There"s no mistake it was her.

However, the surrounding aura differed completely from that of the usual. It wasn"t like Lyn was covered in blood or anything like a gruesome sight. No, it was the girl"s presence that seemed to be overwhelming him.

----

Present

When he saw that back, that lonely back, Allen wanted nothing more than to hold her tightly in his arms, and never let her go again. But even that was taken away from him.